Another awesome concert from Brad
Country music star Brad Paisley has been described as a country
traditionalist. He has also been called a "triple threat"
because of his skill in song-writing, guitar-playing and singing.
He lived up to all of that and more Saturday night in Hiawassee,
Ga., when he performed two shows­despite being sick and just
a little hoarse.
This is the third time I've been to one of his concerts and I'm
never disappointed. Brad always puts on a great show. Some of
the songs he writes and performs make you laugh out loud and
others will really bring a tear to your eyes. He played a variety
of these Saturday night.
The opening two songs are a bit of a blur as I joined the huge
crowd lined up at the stage to get photos. It's hard to take
photos as you keep moving, but the crowd of mostly women did
just that. Since the concert was the day before his 29th birthday,
many of those dropped off cards and posters for Brad wishing
him a happy birthday. He even read one of the cards.
I was glad Brad performed "I'm Gonna Miss Her," which
is one of my favorites from his latest CD, "Part II,"
which I think of as the "fishing song." Brad and Frank
Rogers wrote this one and it is hilarious. It is about a man
who loves a woman, but loves fishing more. Who can't help but
laugh out loud as he sings "...I'm gonna miss her. Oh, lookie
there, I've got a bite." Brad says about this one: "This
song comes from personal experience. It's all in jest, but it's
also a little painful. If you make me choose, I'll be out on
the lake."
Brad's conversation sprinkled throughout the show is also filled
with humor. As usual, he picked on his fiddle player, Justin,
who takes all of the kidding in stride. Poor Justin is always
teased by the other guys about his dating (or lack of dating).
They also continue to tease him about his height (or lack of
it) and offer him steps to stand up on to reach the microphone.
Justin is an amazing fiddle player and obviously also has a great
sense of humor. Just check out Brad's latest video, "Wrapped
Around," to see more pranks involving Justin. The two kids
from the video, Dillon and McKenzie, were at the concert Saturday
and came out on stage while Brad performed "Wrapped Around."
Brad introduced "Two Feet of Topsoil" as Justin's song.
It's about a guy who's under "two feet of topsoil"
after losing a girl to another guy. It's also "geologically
correct," as Brad says on his website. The lyrics are a
hoot: "There's two feet of topsoil, a little bit of bedrock,
limestone in between, a fossilized dinosaur, a little patch of
crude oil, a thousand feet of granite underneath, then there's
me."
One of the best moments during the concert came when Brad stood
alone on the stage and began strumming on the guitar. The band
had gone backstage and the spotlight was centered on Brad. He
didn't sing at first. He just played, but the audience soon began
singing "How Great Thou Art" along with the stirring
music. There were a few tears in the audience and a standing
ovation when he finished the medley of gospel and patriotic tunes.
With back-to-back concerts on most weekends, it's easy for performers
to forget what state they are in and Brad joked about that too.
He said it's good to be in...and looked behind at the band who
said, "Georgia." He did comment on the colorful changing
leaves and the mountains, which he said remind him of home. He
is originally from West Virginia, but lives near Nashville now.
Brad also joked with the audience. There are always a few really
loud girls (no, not me) who yell, "I love you." Without
missing a beat, he said, "Oh, I love you too."
Wearing a white cowboy hat, tan jacket, brown jeans and boots,
Brad looked great, as always. But for the true fans, you could
tell he wasn't feeling well. As soon as he came out on stage,
my mom said, "He's sick." He still went on like a trooper
and sounded great. I can't imagine having to perform two shows
while battling a cold. It just shows what a pro he is.
Angela Gary is editor of The Banks County News and associate
editor of The Jackson Herald. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

Letter To
the Editor

The
Banks County News
October 31, 2001

Asphalt plant a
threat to Alto
Eleven years ago, Alto was threatened with a giant garbage incinerator
to be placed on state land.
Today, Alto's threat is a relocated asphalt plant to be placed
just south of the prison on state land, on North County Line
Road near Government Drive and Alto Village Circle. The plant
will be operated by the state Department of Transportation.
Remember the smell of a newly paved, tarred road? That smell
will be in the air eight hours a day, five days a week, 52 weeks
a year, wafting over all the people in the prison and nearby
homes.
In addition to the smell, people will be breathing sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, soot and dust. None of this is good for your
lungs and is especially harmful to children and the elderly.
If you want to have a hearing, you must request one in writing
before Nov. 21. Write to Jimmy Johnston, program manager, Stationary
Source Permitting Program, Air Protection Branch, 4244 International
Parkway, Suite 120, Atlanta, GA 30354.
Sincerely,
Adele Kushner
Executive director
Action for a Clean Environment
Alto